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Jeannine Strandjord Elected to Kauffman Foundation Board of Trustees

KANSAS CITY, Mo., (January 25, 2012) – The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation today announced that local business and civic leader Jeannine Strandjord has joined its Board of Trustees. Strandjord, whose career at Sprint spanned 20 years, brings a broad base of experience in business, finance, philanthropy and governance to the Kauffman Foundation Board.

Strandjord retired from Sprint in 2005, where, as senior vice president and chief integration officer, she was responsible for managing the successful transformation of Sprint from a product-centric to a customer-centric operating model. In this role, she instituted programs to increase revenues, renew the brand, improve customer service and reduce costs. Previously, she held several senior vice president positions within Sprint, including chief financial officer for the global markets group (a $9 billion division), head of financial services, treasurer and controller.

Prior to joining Sprint, she held senior financial positions with a division of RH Macy's and Kansas City Power & Light Company. She began her career on the audit staff of Ernst & Ernst.

"We are so pleased to have Jeannine join our board," said Thomas McDonnell, Kauffman Foundation board chairman. "With her deep knowledge of business and finance, combined with her experience serving on both corporate and nonprofit boards, she will make meaningful contributions to this Foundation as we strive to fulfill Ewing Kauffman's legacy."

Strandjord serves on the corporate boards of American Century Mutual Funds, DST Systems, Inc. and Euronet Worldwide. She also is on the private company board of JE Dunn Construction Company. From 2006-2010, she served on the board of Charming Shoppes, Inc. Her nonprofit boards include the Heartland Chapter of the National Association of Corporate Directors, which she chaired for two years; the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation; and KU Medical Center Research Institute. She was a trustee of Rockhurst University for nine years.

"The Kauffman Foundation is a treasure to our community and one of the most important philanthropic institutions in the nation," said Strandjord. "As a long-time admirer of its mission and work, I am both honored and thrilled to have the opportunity to serve the Foundation in this way."